NEW HAVEN -- The owner of Rocco's Bakery Thursday was given probation for hiring undocumented immigrants, but a federal judge found five workers' complaints of sexual, physical and verbal abuse "disturbing," and ordered a forfeiture hearing.

"The victims' statements are disturbing to me and they should be to you, as well," U.S. District Judge Mark Kravitz said in sentencing the Fair Haven bakery's owner, Antonio DiBenedetto, to three years' probation.

"There will be restitution to the victims," Kravitz said, and gave the parties 30 days to come to an agreement on what to do with $400,000 in real estate DiBenedetto owns, as well as profits from the business.

The five family members from Ecuador, who claim to have been held in slave-like conditions, were rescued from DiBenedetto's property by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement officials in 2008 and have been given legal work status while their case plays out.

In a separate civil suit, they are looking for $38,000 in back pay as well as for pain and suffering.

That suit charges DiBenedetto with human trafficking for allegedly failing to pay them fairly and threatening them with deportation if they complained, in addition to the abuse charges. A separate suit with similar charges was filed on behalf of two more family members.

DiBenedetto, 65, could have been sentenced from 10 months to 18 months in jail. In addition to probation, he was told to perform 150 hours of community service. Kravitz warned DiBenedetto he could be sentenced to two years in prison if he violates probation.

The judge received 35 letters of support from family and friends of DiBenedetto, but Kravitz said he also took the victims' statements into consideration in arriving at the sentence,

Sheila Hayre, who represents the undocumented immigrants, said she was heartened by the judge's decision that looks to compensate her clients for unpaid wages.

Hugh Keefe, DiBenedetto's lawyer, said he looks forward to the civil case and cross-examining the plaintiffs, who he says have yet to testify under oath.

Hayre said statements made by her clients, in the civil suit and the victim statements given to the judge, can be subject to perjury charges.

The courtroom Thursday was filled with more than a dozen supporters for DiBenedetto, on one side, and the plaintiffs, their lawyers and a handful of supporters on the other.

Keefe described his client as a generous man who helped his friends and neighbors, as well as community groups. DiBenedetto immigrated from Italy at age 24, and Keefe said he since has worked as a baker, taking no vacation time and working six to seven days a week.

"For those of who live in New Haven, it (the bakery) is a gem. When the area ... became crime-ridden, he was one of the only Caucasian-run businesses," Keefe said, and remains there working with his wife and two sons despite five robberies.

Keefe said DiBenedetto lives a modest lifestyle, profiting between $38,000 and $59,000 in recent years. He told the court that the past year has been a difficult one for DiBenedetto, who was hospitalized six times and suffers from multiple maladies, including heart problems and COPD tied to heavy smoking.

"He meant to help," Keefe said, when he hired no less than 10 undocumented immigrants to work at the bakery in Fair Haven and the production facility in Meriden. He described it as an example of Murphy's law: "No good deed goes unpunished."

Prosecutor Jonathan Moribido said sentencing should take into consideration the good and the bad. "These individuals reported verbal, physical and sexual abuse. For their sake, it's important to put it on the record," Moribido said of the workers.

Hayre said she would have preferred that the court dealt with the abuse charges directly, rather than on hiring undocumented workers. She said they worked "horrible, long hours even when they were children," and allegedly were told they could not have guests or their children go to school.

"But I see that issue has been resuscitated by the judge's words, and I have new hope that we are going to see some justice and repayment of what these workers have lost. I think the judge sent a clear message today," she said.

Today's Top Insider StoriesOur journalists provide in-depth analysis and reporting about the people, places and issues that matter most to you. Subscribers get access to all of their comprehensive coverage.Stories from Insider